Politics & Government
Did Heat Wave Shock RVC's Electrical System?
Village officials say power grid was able to meet high demands during soaring temperatures.
Power usage during last week’s heat wave put one of the heaviest loads ever on Rockville Centre’s electrical system, the village announced.
The village said that it calculated the adjusted peak usage was about 54.2 megawatts, and that for five consecutive days, usage reached at least 50 megawatts. There were only limited outages, the village said.
“The excessive heat resulted in high demand for electricity that placed a large strain on our electrical equipment, however, the village’s electrical department was able to meet those demands,” Mayor Francis Murray said in a release. “We pride ourselves in our ongoing maintenance program.”
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The village said that it has sufficient supply to meet demand, but it remind residents to use energy wisely in order to better manage their utility bills with these tips:
Closing curtains and blinds to keep the sun outside
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Setting thermostats at 78 degrees or higher if health allows
Delaying use of major, heat generating household appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and dryers, until after 8 p.m., when the temperature begins to drop
Turning off non-essential appliances, electronics and other devices
Enrolling in balanced billing to avoid seasonal spikes in energy usage
“Residents should take additional steps to not only reduce stress on the electrical system, but to save money as well,” said Paul Pallas, RVC Electric Department Superintendent. "Making even a few changes can help residents save on their annual energy bills.”
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